"With the Pope on one side and Christ on the other"
Dili by DSwede

Dili, nestled in a small coastal valley, is protected by the mountains to the South, the large Cristo Rei ("Christ the King" statue) to the East, and if the lighthouse was not enough, there is a Statue of the Pope to protect its West flank.

If you so desire and are fit enough to brave the heat, you can walk the major points of Dili in a day. I spent the better part of a week wondering around its streets, back and forth, up and down, just milling about and trying to absorb its character.

Dili is a relatively busy city during the day, but still rustic in feel. It is very humbling to see the historical photographs of the city of the time before and during the independence struggles. The city has suffered many hardships along with the people. There are still a few foundations around (both in the city and in the country) that still stand as a testimonial about these times. But by and large the city is fully functional and bustling.

During the night, there are a few pockets of activity, mainly in the city center and along the waterfront restaurants. This is when the expat crowd usually comes out in larger numbers and the character of the city changes a bit. Mind you not in a bad way, but this is a shift from the lifestyle of the Timorese during the day.